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CHICAGO (JGL) – Manny Pacquiao snatched back the WBO welterweight championship belt with a unanimous decision from Timothy Bradley, Jr. when he handled the younger and more athletic American champion Saturday (April 12) at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas by being more aggressive and measured, using a seldom seen rapid-fire combination that stopped cold Bradley’s taunting.

The Filipino world champion and Congressman who started flat in the first round did not give any reason for the judges to give Bradley the call when he roared back stronger on the second and third rounds and landed more accurate and solid punches.

But Bradley recovered momentarily on the fourth and fifth rounds and returned the favor to Pacquiao with his repeated crisp head shots at Manny.

But starting near the end of sixth and up to the 10th round, it was all Manny as he peppered Bradley with lefts and rights that Bradley gamely absorbed.

Manny, 35, put Bradley, 31, on the ropes on the seventh round but failed to knock Bradley down. He followed it up on the eighth, ninth and 10th rounds but Bradley withstood Manny’s roundhouse punches.

Although Manny doubled up his scoring punches on Bradley, the American champion mightily stood his ground although complaining of having problem with his foot. Bradley tried to go for the knockout but Manny did not repeat his mistake in his bout with Juan Manuel Marquez when he dropped his guard.

Marquez stunned Pacquiao in 2012 with a sixth-round knockout. But Manny started with his comeback with his brutal beating of Brandon Rios in Macau late last year.

The three judges, Michael Pernick of Florida, Glenn Trowbridge of Nevada, and Craig Metcalfe of Canada, scored it 116-112, 116-112 and 118-110 all for Pacquiao. The scoring was a far cry from the controversial split decision of Bradley over Pacquiao in 2012 although Pacquiao piled up and landed more punches than Bradley. In that bout, Judges Duane Ford and C. J. Ross scored the fight 115–113 in favor of Bradley, while Jerry Roth scored the fight 115–113 in favor of Pacquiao. The decision was universally protested and was even disputed by the World Boxing Council, which nominally awarded the victory to Pacquiao.

STAINS BRADLEY’S SPOTLESS RECORD

Pacquiao’s victory redeemed himself and re-installed himself as among the elite fighters and blemished he unbeaten record of Bradley, who now holds the record of 31-1. Pacquiao now runs his record at 56-5-2. Pacquiao earns $20-M while Bradley will make $6-M, his biggest in his career, aside from the pay-per-view earnings.

Many Filipino Americans and friends in Chicago, who witnessed on pay-per-view cable, were so excited to watch the action-packed fight that could likely postpone Pacquiao’s decision to hang up his globes.

Chicago’s Administrative Law Judge Phil Bernstein said Pacquiao showed that he was hungry to have his welterweight championship belt back as Manny was “more aggressive than Bradley thru most of the 12 rounds. Manny is now better than ever.”

For his part, Filipino American Marlon L. Pecson said, “Manny’s next fight should be this November or next year with (American Floyd) Mayweather. But Mayweather needs to win in his next fight next month if he wants to face Manny.”

Another boxing fan, Carlito Hernandez, also of Chicago, said, “The fight tonight was a good fight and a nice fight. It’s a redemption for Pacquiao. We have to see the third fight between Pacquiao and Bradley because there was no knockdown. Regarding the Mayweather, only after a knockdown in the Pacquiao-Bradley III.

“As to Juan Manuel Marquez fighting Manny, it is history. But we will see after Mayweather’s fight next month. There maybe a Marquez-Pacquiao V although Marquez will be gunning after Bradley, who beat Marquez earlier. Everything can happen.” (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)

4 Attached Images

Photocaptions:

SOLID PUNCH:

Filipino world champion and Congressman Manny Pacquiao deals Timothy Bradley,
Jr. a stinging right straight to the face in this bit of action last Saturday,
April 12, in MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada where Pacquiao dominated
Bradley for the second time but this time getting the unanimous nod of the
judges, who awarded him back the WBO welterweight championship. His victory
paves the way for his successful comeback. (Photo courtesy of Chris Farina of
Top Rank)

CHEERING FOR MANNY:

These Chicago Filipino Americans could not help their excitement as they
cheered after their idol, Filipino world champion and Congressman Manny
Pacquiao handily beat Timothy Bradley, Jr. and smeared his unbeaten record when
Manny won a unanimous decision over Bradley for the first time in the second of their two
meetings last Saturday, April 12, 2014 at MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(JGLPhoto by Joseph G. Lariosa)

Boxing Festivity at KCS: Remembering Dr. Riz Oades and His Love of Boxing

NATIONAL CITY, CA -- The evening festivity was a
remembrance of the late Dr. Riz Oades, Co-founder of KCS, Author,
Professor for Asian Studies in San Diego State University and Community
Organizer. One of his favorite sports that he loved to watch was boxing,
which he enjoyed and shared with friends and members of the community.

Later in the evening, after the much-awaited boxing rematch
II results of Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao defeating defending champion Timothy " Desert
Storm" Bradley by unanimous decision for the Welterweight
Championship of Boxing at the MGM in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 12, 2014.

Hosted By Filipino American Wellness Center (AKA Kalusugan
Community Services); PTE-HOPE, Inc.; BibliaFashion. Special donations
from Concerned Filipino-American Club (CFAC), William "Bill" Flores and
many others.

C HICAGO (FAXX/jGLi) – Undefeated pound-for-pound world
boxing champion Floyd “The Money” Mayweather tried to whip up a storm into
the Chicago leg of his traveling circus to hype his September 14 bout dubbed “The
One” against another undefeated baby-face Mexican star and Super Welterweight
World Champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas,
Nevada. But he found himself Wednesday (June 26) being bitten by a bug that
swept the city after its own Chicago Blackhawks national hockey league team re-captured their second
Stanley Cup championship in four years.

A game but
humbled Mayweather could only mutter a brief congratulatory quip to a local
ABC7 TV news reporter, who asked him if he followed the Blackhawks improbable
playoff quest, by admitting he hardly followed the playoff because “I was busy
but I’m happy for them.”

Before some of
the fans, who waited early in the morning to watch the arrival of Mayweather
and Alvarez, a native of Guadalajara, Mexico, in the evening, promoter Oscar de
la Hoya whetted their appetite by greeting them in Spanish and thanking them
for their warm reception.

De la Hoya’s
Golden Boy Promotions is assisting the Mayweather Promotions in producing a
mega-blockbuster bout that would largely benefit Mayweather both as a boxer and a
promoter.

In a promotional
stunt that mimicked a grand entrance during a boxing main event, Mr. Alvarez
entered the full-3,500 capacity Chicago Theater at 125 North State, Chicago, Illinois after 6 p.m.
to the chants of a highly partisan Latino crown, “Canelo,” “Canelo,” “Canelo”!

The crowd saved
their cheers for the entrance of Mayweather, followed by his towering
bodyguards in black shirts emblazoned with “TMT” (The Money Team). Mayweather
was wearing a white shirt with a light grey jacket and TMT cap. His shirt revealed
his glittering diamond necklace and wristwatch that fortunately were not
snatched away from him by an uncontrollable shrieking mob, who greeted him as he
inched his way up the theater stage as if he was climbing a ring.

WILL CANELO BE
THE ONE?

I ntroduced as
the “one, the highest paid, the one in a generation, maybe one in a lifetime,
he (Mayweather) is one with grand style thrust in showbiz and everything else.
But will he be the one at the end of September 14 or will there be a next one,
will there be a new one, Canelo Alvarez, (who) will he be the one, the next
champion Mexico waiting to beat Mayweather?

“Canelo is
younger one, bigger one, stronger one. One thing I know, all of us will be
watching who will be the one on Sept. 14.”

Alvarez pumped
up the crowd in Spanish by saying, “I’m ready for the big challenges and now I
have to prove it against Floyd Mayweather on September 14. I said I wanted to
fight the best and here I am in front of the best pound-for-pound fighter, who
I respect for his achievements. But on September 14, I will write a new page in
boxing history because I am going to be victorious. This fight is for all of my
fans, my family and, of course, for Mexico because we’re fighting on the
weekend of Mexico’s independence. I’ve waited so long for this and my only
option is to win!"

During his greetings, when Mayweather remarked, "Hard work," repeatedly, the fans answered, "Dedication!”

At the press
conference that followed, Mayweather told the media that outside the ring, his
biggest accomplishments are his “four beautiful grown and healthy children. I
am comfortable. I am happy and blessed. But I can’t do it without you guys.”

When asked the
difference between a Mayweather of six years ago in 2007 and the Mayweather of
today, Mayweather said, “I’m a mentally grown up person. I now have a leader
(an adviser he calls his brother) next to me to take care of my day-to-day business and
who tells me right from wrong. We love each other. But only the strongest
survive.”

NO PACQUIAO
QUESTION, PLEASE

When this
reporter asked Mr. Mayweather if Filipino world champion Manny Pacquiao can
mount a comeback, he waived the question away, saying, “back off, back off.”

Homer D. Sayson,
who covers sports events for Philboxing.com, and who was also in the press
conference, told this reporter that even Golden Boy’s CEO Richard Schaeffer evaded
his question when he floated the name of Mr. Pacquiao. “They don’t want to
answer anything about Manny (Pacquiao).”

When asked by
this reporter if he was predicting a knockout or a knockdown against the
22-year-old Mexican brawler 14 years his junior, the 36-year-old Mr. Mayweather
moved his head sideways without comment. The same question posed by this
reporter to the Spanish-speaking Alvarez, who understands English, managed with
snatches of “no knockout or knockdown but we will win.”

When asked by
this reporter if this is his biggest fight, the Grand Rapids, Michigan native
said, “I can’t be able to say this is my biggest fight. All my fights have
grown big. I can’t say this is my biggest fight.”

When asked why
he missed the Blackhawks playoff, Mr. Mayweather said, “I’ve been busy to build
a pay-per-view fight. I was busy traveling with my daughter. Jet skiing,
swimming in the ocean, water skiing and bike riding.”

For the rest of
the night, both boxers were signing away autographs from fans, mostly boxing
gloves, oversized posters and other personal stuff, including a white-colored
iPhone.

Eight-time,
five-division World Champion Mayweather at 44-0-0 (26 knockout) will be moving
up in weight from welterweight while super welterweight Alvarez (42-0-1
(draw)-30 knockouts will be moving down to 152 pounds with Alvarez' WBA and WBC
titles at stake.

On Friday, the
Blackhawks will parade around the city to hold a love fest with tens of thousands of
fans.

While the
Mayweather-Alvarez circus leaves town and moves to Atlanta, Georgia, on
Thursday (June 27), and to Miami, Florida, on Friday (June 28) and the rest of the 11-city,
two-country tour. (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)

C HICAGO (jGLi) – An unexpected wicked right straight from Mexican champion Juan Manuel Marquez was all that was needed to settle the controversies surrounding the three previous fights between Marquez and Filipino champion Manny Pacquiao to win by knockout their epic, non-title welterweight fourth bout at MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada Saturday (Dec. 8) night.

The punch that 33-year-old Pacquiao admitted he never saw coming also saw the 39-year-old Marquez receiving the “Champion of the Decade” trophy courtesy of the World Boxing Organization.Marquez now improves his record to 55 (KO 40) wins; 6 losses; 1 draw while Pacquiao drops to 54 wins (38 knockouts, 16 decisions), 5 losses (3 knockouts, 2 decisions), 2 draws.

Pacquiao told HBO commentator Larry Merchant, “I did not see the punch. I was so overconfident that I got him. He is tough boxer. He is not easy to beat. That’s boxing. That’s sports.”

Pacquiao, who traded heavy punches with Marquez to live up to pre-fight hype that there would be no more fifth fight, was ahead 47-46 in all judges’ scorecards when the end came at 2:59 of the sixth round of the scheduled 12 rounds.

The lucky punch came right into the face of the Filipino southpaw, who was open, as he missed his right hook to Marquez. Pacquiao fell on his face on the canvass and remained motionless for several moments before ring medical staff helped him back on his seat. Pacquiao’s eyes were not focused correctly for several minutes after the bout.

“I knew Manny could knock me out at any time,” the bloodied Marquez said, “I threw the perfect punch.”

“I did my best. I was careless,” Pacquiao said, “I did not see his punch. I never expected the punch.”

Marquez decked Pacquiao in the third round with a right hand while Pacquiao returned the favor by knocking down Marquez in the fifth.

VINDICATION FOR MARQUEZ

It was a vindication for Marquez, who complained that he was the winner in all the previous three fights during the last eight years. They met for the first time in 2004 for the featherweight title. Marquez survived three early knockdowns to scrape out a draw. In 2008, they would meet again at 130 pounds. Pacquiao was awarded a split decision by the narrowest of margins as one judge gave the victory to Marquez, the second favored Pacquiao and the third gave it to Pacquiao by just one point.

In 2011, Pacquiao won on a majority decision that was not popular to the crowd. Marquez believes he won that fight.

Pacquiao congratulated Marquez a few minutes after the bout by smiling and touching gloves with him.

When asked by Merchant if he wants to fight Marquez for the fifth time, Manny said, “Yes. It is a good fight. I thought I got him. I was starting to get overconfident because I thought I got him. Well, if they give us that chance, I will fight him again.”

Based on the Compubox, Manny landed a total of 68 out of 148 punches thrown or 46 percent while Marquez landed 41 out of 150 punches thrown or 27%.

Meanwhile, in a Spanish twit, Atty. Francisco Valcarcel, chairman of WBO based in Puerto Rico, congratulated Marquez for “your tenacity, courage and patriotic pride. You have virtues that are role models for everyone. Good for you. For Manny Pacquiao, I am very proud of you. You are noble in defeat. Fans will keep you in their hearts.”

MAYWEATHER WISHES MANNY NOTHING BUT THE BEST

U ndefeated champion Floyd Mayweather was quoted by www.fighthype.comas saying, "Marquez is a true champion, Manny Pacquiao is a true champion, both of them went out there and put on a good performance, and that's a good thing for the sport of boxing.

"I wish Pacquiao nothing but the best. I wish that he can bounce back and he can recoup from this. In the sport of boxing, you have to really dedicate yourself to your craft. I think he's got so many different things on the outside that he worries about, you know. But it was a good thing that he was able to come into the sport, you know, piggyback off my name, and get a bunch of endorsement deals and make a good living. That's a great thing."

As far as the mega-fight with the Filipino icon is concerned, Mayweather suggests the manner in which Pacquiao was knocked out probably means he has a lot more to think about, and a long way to go, before that fight is ever a possibility again.

"Pacquiao's focus should be trying to take a vacation, get his mind right, and get a few tune-up fights so he can bounce back.

"I'm not here to talk bad about Pacquiao. I feel bad for him, honestly. I really feel bad for him. There's a difference in the ways you can get knocked out. See, when a guy gets knocked out and he can get up, they sit him on his stool, they rub his back, he go home and ice himself, you know, he go to the hospital and get checked out and he's okay, that's one thing. But when you gotta wake a guy up with smelling salt and he got a concussion and he gotta go to the hospital over night, that's crucial. I mean, that's close to death."

Mayweather added, "Hopefully he's okay. My prayers go out to the Pacquiao family. I know he loves the sport of boxing, so hopefully he can bounce back." # # #

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C HICAGO (jGLi) – Promoters of the cancelled soccer game between the Philippines’ Azkals and U.S. Virgin Islands at the Kuntz Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, last Aug. 17 are going to refund fans, who bought tickets for the game.

A recorded message at Kuntz Stadium said buyers, who bought tickets at the game between Azkals and U.S. Virgin Islands’ The Dashing Eagles, should get refunds of their tickets from retailers.

Nena Perez, one of the sponsors of the Azkals, told this reporter that the team from U.S. Virgin Islands failed to make it to Indianapolis “due to complications” last Wednesday (Aug. 15), two days before the scheduled exhibition games.

It was reported that the Caribbean team appeared to have “visa problems.”

Organizers of the game and ticket retailers, however, could not be reached for comment.

Ms. Perez, who produces cream for men and cosmetics for women in the United States but distributes them to Latin America and Asian countries, said the Azkals left for the Philippines last Saturday (Aug. 18).

The Azkals got a rude welcome last Saturday (Aug. 11) when host Chicago Inferno of the United Soccer League’s (USL) Premiere Development League (PDL) manhandled them, 3-1, before a predominantly Filipino-American crowd of about a thousand in an “international friendly” game at its home court at the Joe Bean Stadium in Chicago’s suburban Wheaton College in suburban Wheaton, Illinois.

Brian Bauer, marketing and publicity officer of Chicago Inferno, described the game as a “a truly unique evening, (as) the Chicago Inferno became the first USL Premier Developmental League team to host another country’s national team and it was historic.

FANS MAKE INFERNO UNDERDOG

P laying to a packed house at WheatonCollege, the Inferno was clearly the underdog as the majority of the crowd came to see the Philippine Men’s National Football Team, affectionately known as the Azkals. The night turned out to be a great one. With flags flying, constant singing and a festive attitude, even a 3-1 win by the Inferno did not mar the fans enjoyment.”

If the cheering fans were the gauge, it appeared the visiting Philippine team is having an edge as the fans for the Azkals are drowning a handful of Chicago Inferno fans.

The Inferno was not one to be intimidated as Chicago forward Carl Haworth drove a shot from the 25 yards in the seventh minute, eluding Azkals goalkeeper Eduard Scapano, for 1-0 score.

In the 14th minute, Inferno’s midfielder Drew Jeskey took a high bounce and kicked the ball with his left foot and the got the ball past the goalie for the 2-0 lead for Chicago.

In the 33rd minute, Jeskey, the former NorthernIllinoisUniversity standout, managed to blast another shot from a low free kick from Dustin Downey that blew past defenders at the back corner for a 3-0 score.

But the Philippine team was not one to just easily give up. In the final 73rd minute, the new substituted midfielder O.J. Porteria kicked a cross to defender Carli De Murga, who rifled the ball to the net, for the only goal of the visitor, preventing a shutout.

“I’m happy for the goal but sad for the score.” De Murga, a 23-year-old Spaniard, said.

“In the first half, we did not concentrate but the second half was better.”

Azkals coach Hans Michael Weiss attributed his team’s loss to “poor” execution of the plays in the first half, adding in the “second (half), we changed a couple of players and the new players played very well. I was contented with the second half very much. We just needed some adjustments. We have many training sessions, jet lag, and time difference. But these are not excuses.”

The Philippines, which plays in the Asian Football Confederation, was using the U.S. training camp and friendly matches with Inferno and Dashing Eagles as tune-up game for November’s ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup, which will be co-hosted by Malaysia and Thailand. The Azkals reached the semifinals of the last Suzuki Cup in 2010.

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W HEATON, Illinois (jGLi) – Host Chicago Inferno of the United Soccer League’s (USL) Premiere Development League is off to a successful 2012 season debut by beating the visiting Philippine team, Azkals (mga asong kalsada or street dogs), 3-1, before a predominantly Filipino-American crowd of about a thousand in an “international friendly” game at its home court at the Joe Bean Stadium in Chicago’s suburban Wheaton College Saturday (Aug. 11).

The Inferno, one of the only two Great Lakes Division teams under the USL Premiere Development League’s Central Conference, only needed the spectacular efforts of midfielder Drew Jeske, who scored a pair of goals in the 14th and 24th minutes of the first half. The other team in the Great Lakes Division is Chicago Fire Premier.

Inferno’s forward Carl Haworth scored the first goal at the 7th minute, blanking Askals in the 45-minute first half.

Askals’ defender Carli De Murga was the only one to score from either team in the second half.

“I’m happy for the goal but sad for the score.” De Murga, a 23-year-old Spaniard, said.

“In the first half, we did not concentrate but the second half was better.”

Azkals coach Hans Michael Weiss attributed his team’s loss to “poor” execution of the plays in the first half, adding in the “second (half), we changed a couple of players and the new players played very well. I was contented with the second half very much. We just needed some adjustments. We have many training sessions, jet lag, and time difference. But these are not excuses.”

Inferno plays again with the U.S. Virgin Islands’ The Dashing Eagle on Aug. 14 while the Azkals will hold a scrimmage on Tuesday (Aug. 14) to prepare against The Dashing Eagle on Friday (Aug. 17) at nearby Kuntz Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

PHL TEAM SECOND IN HISTORY TO FACE PDL

T he Philippines and U.S. Virgin Islands will be the second and third in history to face a team from the PDL, a national summer league composed of top collegiate players.

The men’s soccer teams in the U.S. have three professional leagues in the Professional Division of the U.S. Soccer Federation – the Major League Soccer (MLS); the North American Soccer League; the USL Pro. The USL Premiere Development League, where Chicago Inferno belongs, is the fourth level.

In a press statement in its website, Chicago Inferno President Todd Short said,

“It’s such an honor for our first-year club to host these friendlies against two up-and-coming soccer nations.” Short’s company Soccer Specific Development, LLC owns the Inferno franchise and is the exclusive U.S. promoter of the two national teams. “The matches give the Inferno a chance to play two competitive games, while increasing the visibility of the Inferno brand well beyond the Chicagoland area.

The Philippines, which plays in the Asian Football Confederation, is using the U.S. training camp and friendly matches as preparation for November’s ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup, which will be co-hosted by Malaysia and Thailand. The Azkals reached the semifinals of the last Suzuki Cup in 2010.

Among the regular standouts for manager Dan Palami’s team are brothers James and Phil Younghusband, two of the nation’s most popular sportsmen, and goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, who plays professionally for Fulham of the English Premier League.

Tickets for Chicago Inferno vs. Philippines and Philippines vs. U.S. Virgin Islands matches were $25, while tickets Chicago Inferno vs. U.S. Virgin Islands cost $20. Tickets are available on the Chicago Inferno web site at www.infernosc.com.

Consul General Leo M. Herrera-Lim invited the Filipino American community to support and watch the Azkals international friendly soccer matches.

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C HICAGO (jGLi) – Right hander Rizza Bernardino pitched a dominating five-inning complete game and willed her Asia-Pacific team to win the first ever Big League Softball World Series title for girls for the Philippines last Wednesday (Aug. 8) at Vandenberg Park, Kalamazoo, Michigan, in a nationally-televised game on ESPN3.

Bernardino gave up two earned runs on five hits as her team routed the West Chester, California, 14-2, in a shocking comeback.

The game was supposed to be played for seven innings but under the rules, if one team is ahead by 10 runs at the end of the fifth inning, the mercy rule is applied.

Third baseman Michelle Lentija put the Philippine team on the board with a run-batted-in (RBI) double, 1-0, followed by shortstop Queeny Sabobo’s two-run single to end the top of the first inning, 3-0. It was the score all the Filipinos needed to beat the champions of the West, who could only scrap for two runs at the bottom of the fifth inning.

Second baseman Krisna Paguican’s single in the middle drove in a pair of runs at the top of the second inning to make it 5-0.

Rizza Bernardino’s two-run homer, a blooper, chased California’s ace left handed starter Christina Washington, who took the loss. Washington was replaced by Karen Mao, who was making her first appearance on the mound.

Asia Pacific right fielder Kristine Joy Lacupa put the game out of reach with an RBI double at the top of the third inning, 8-0.

“CHEMISTRY, STRONG WORK ETHIC”

At the end of the third inning, Bernardino retired eight batters in row.

Lentija scored on a wild pitch on the fourth, followed by left fielder

Mary Joy Floranza’s two-run homer on the fifth to make it 11-0. Lentija added a two-run single to make it 14-0 in a five-run fifth inning scored on two outs.

Ana Santiago, manager of the Philippine team, credited the win to the “chemistry and strong work ethic” of the team, who refused to quit.

When the Philippine team left the Philippines on July 27, they had a nine-hour layover in Japan and another 11-hour layover in Honolulu, Hawaii en route to Seattle, Washington, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, before arriving in Chicago, Illinois, on July 29 and taking a 149-mile, 2.30-hour bus ride to Kalamazoo.

As a result of their travel fatigue, the Philippine team dropped their first two initial games, one of them to the unbeaten California team that swept its seven elimination assignments, blanking Southwest (Texas), 13-0, Monday.

But the Philippine team did not give up after they rested and battled their jet lag, winning all subsequent seven games in a row in a nine-team Pool Play for girls aged 14-19 (They cannot have turned 19 before January 1, 2012), in a seven-inning game, playing in a 60-feet diamond, 43-foot pitching distance and a 12-inch ball.

Manila, representing the Asia-Pacific Region, had lost in the Big League World Series finals in 2008, 2010 and 2011.

The Team Manila advanced to the finals by beating East (Pennsylvania) 11-6.

Santiago, the manager of Team Manila, was quoted by third baseman Michelle Lentija as saying that during the tournament there is “no cell phones, no Internet, no shopping – only softball.”

The Philippines squad built a 14-0 lead before the West Region representing the Los Angeles area scored three hits to drive in a run.

Ten of the 13 players from Manila would be too old to join the team next summer.

For now, it will be “party,” “party” for these players, who will be bringing home to the Philippines a World Series trophy for the first time.

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C HICAGO (jGLi) – If Miami Heat keeps on winning, it will not be surprising that Coach Erik Spoelstra will be including the Philippines in taking the Larry O’Brien Trophy as part of his victory lap.

Tim Donovan, spokesman of the Miami Heat, confirmed that the trophy Mr. Spoelstra took with him to the Philippines is the real McCoy, not just a replica.

Before winning the NBA championship less than two months ago, Mr. Spoelstra drew up a plan that would motivate his players to win the Larry O’Brien trophy.

He sworn his players to secrecy in an effort to energize his players during the post season coming up with rubber molded into a trophy and black in color, signed by each player, promising to play together as a team to win the championship.

According to the Miami Herald, not even Miami Heat President Pat Riley knew the pact.

After each victory in the playoffs, Spoelstra and his players secretly marked a victory notch on the replica trophy.

“We had to see 16 of those notches before we could even get happy,” Dwayne Wade said. “In the locker room, we put that last notch on there, everybody started screaming and yelling.”

It was not explained how Mr. Spoelstra came up with the idea.

But it mirrored the superstition of basketball great Michael Jordan, who led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championship, by wearing his University of North Carolina shorts under his uniform in every game, Jordan led the UNC to the NCAA championship in 1982 and the shorts was credited for bringing him luck. In order to cover his shorts, Jordan began wearing longer shorts, which set the trend in the NBA.

When Mr. Spoelstra paid a call on President Aquino last Thursday, he spilled the beans how he became the first Asian and Filipino-American winner of the golden NBA championship trophy.

On his fourth consecutive visit to the Philippines, his fourth attempt at the NBA crown turned out to be a charm.

Spoelstra’s mother hails from San PabloCity in the Philippines.

It is not sure if Mr. Spoelstra will include in his itinerary in the Philippines a visit to the Philippine Congress, which paid tribute to his outstanding accomplishment. # # #

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T he London 2012 Olympics begins today, July 27, 2012. The cost of hosting the world's biggest sporting festival has been estimated at $14.8 billion. Security involves more than 30,000 police, elite special forces and guards. More than 14,000 athletes from over 200 nations are competing in 300 events.

C HICAGO (jGLi) – Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto on Tuesday (July3) told Robert “Bob” Arum, Chairman and CEO of Top Rank, that she did not find any “criminal activity” after she reviewed the controversial welterweight boxing match between Filipino boxing great Manny Pacquiao and undefeated American boxer Timothy Bradley at MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada last June 9th.

In a letter to Mr. Arum, furnished this reporter by Attorney General Masto’s spokesperson, Jennifer Lopez, Masto said, “{U]nless evidence of criminal activity is forthcoming, this matter will be considered closed.”

On June 20, Masto said her representatives spoke to Mr. Arum, also a lawyer, where Mr. Arum “[n]either during the course of this interview nor within your letter do you allege any criminal activity by any parties involved in the Bradley-Pacquiao fight. Since, this office has received no allegations of criminal activity from anyone regarding this fight. Even so, further review was conducted.”

On June 26, Masto interviewed Robert Byrd, who refereed the Pacquiao-Bradley fight. Byrd, a Golden Glove fighter himself, and a military and police veteran, began refereeing in 1980.

When asked if there was anything unusual with the Pacquiao-Bradley fight, Byrd stated, “Pacquiao was late to the pre-bout rules meeting between the referee and the fighters.”

Byrd was told by Pacquiao’s trainers that Pacquiao “was stretching and using treadmill during the scheduled time, which resulted in him being late for the meeting and this delayed the start time.”

VERY COMPETITIVE AND CLOSE FIGHT

B yrd stated the Pacquiao-Bradley fight “was very competitive and close fight.”

Byrd said there was “nothing which would lead him to believe this was not a legitimate fight. He was not aware of any collusion or conspiracies and also was not aware of any inappropriateness by anyone involved in the production of this welterweight fight.”

On June 25, employees of the Nevada Gaming Control Board composed of Chief of Enforcement, Jerry Markling and Chief of the Audit Division, Shirley Springer, were also interviewed.

Markling and Springer said the Pacquiao/Bradley fight “had received no complaints nor were there any reported abnormalities to form a basis for the Gaming Control Board to initiate any type of review of the betting on the Pacquiao-Bradley fight.”

On June 13, Keith Kizer, Director of the Nevada Athletic Commission, said the Commission “licenses all persons involved with a contest, including contestants, their managers, trainers, and corner men as well as the promoters, inspectors, judges, and referees.”

Kizer said judges and referees were “selected pursuant to the established process during a public hearing, and there were no objections to their selection.” The judges for the Pacquiao-Bradley fight “were properly licensed” and a review of the minutes of the public hearing “reveals no apparent abnormalities in the selection.”

Kizer added the Commission monitors the scoring and process and delivers the scorecards from the three judges to the Commission desk after each round. The judges are to score the rounds individually at the end of each round. When the representative of the Commission checks the scores and it is determined there is a majority opinion by the judges, he informs the announcer. The announcer, then, relays this information to the crowd. The majority opinion by the judges is conclusive and if there is no majority, the fight is considered a draw.

Kizer added the Commission “has received no evidence the established procedures for scoring were not followed in the Pacquiao-Bradley fight.”

DISPLEASURE NOT BASIS FOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

M asto said, “[d]ispleasure with the subjective decisions of sporting officials is not a sufficient basis for this office to initiate a criminal investigation. Unless evidence beyond mere displeasure is forthcoming, this will be considered closed. While there may be strong disagreement with the decision, the exercise of professional judgment by individuals officiating at a sporting event is not by itself a criminal violation.”

In a faxed letter to Atty. Gen. Masto dated June 11, Mr. Arum said, “I am not asking you to in any way investigate the determination by the judges from Nevada, nor am I asking you to give any consideration to seeking a change in the final outcome. Instead, I would ask that you consider an investigation that would set the record straight on boxing in Nevada for the entire world to see.

“Nevada is still the premiere site for boxing events in the world and an investigation of the process and more specifically the role of the promoters, including my company, that would allow me and my company to defend its reputation against malicious accusations that are damaging not only to us as a reputable promoter but to the sport itself.”

Three judges in the June 9 bout between Pacquiao and Bradley were evenly split in awarding two rounds to Bradley and one round to Pacquiao that according to Mr. Arum spawned “numerous allegations on blogs and from boxing authorities that perhaps, Top Rank, as well as myself, had something personal to gain by what has been described as an extremely poor decision by boxing officials in Nevada.”

Despite the split decision, Arum said, “there was a near unanimous scoring by boxing writers at ringside that had Pacquiao winning in a lopsided decision.”

Even the five judges commissioned by the World Boxing Organization awarded five rounds to Pacquiao while they gave only one round to Bradley, totally overturning the decision of the Nevada judges

The controversy also caused U.S. Senators John McCain and Harry Reid to revive the little-used H.R. 4167 (passed in the 104th U.S. Congress) known as Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996.

If the proposal of Senators McCain and Reid will be passed, the U.S. Boxing Commission will likely take away the monopoly of some states with boxing commissions, which sanction major boxing events, as the USBC will be the one to appoint judges and referees to work a fight after getting a list of names of judges and referees from such sanctioning organization such as World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council, International Boxing Federation or World Boxing Organization. # # #

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